The Season of Light The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Isaiah 9:2 Two times I’ve really paid attention to light versus dark. Well, maybe just one time as the other just hit me as I was […]
Chosen to Share the Good News And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I […]
The Light of the World We have observed His star at its rising and have come to pay Him homage. Matthew 2:1 During this season of Advent, we are preparing our hearts and minds for the celebration of the birth of our Savior: The Light of the World. We are remembering the beautiful stories of […]
Pregnant with the Promises of God Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the […]
Keeping Watch “In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2: 8 In our day and time, there are not many shepherds living in the fields, nor are their many cowboys riding the range. The closest we have to such livelihoods are the military stationed in […]
Advent: Get Set A Message on Luke 2:1-7 For Jacksonville First United Methodist Church Dec. 15, 2019 By Doug Wintermute dwinterm@yahoo.com Luke 2:1-7 (NRSV) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of […]
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (Light the first Advent candle.) Hope began the journey this Advent season. Hope continues to fuel our faith as we wait for the coming Messiah. (Light the second Advent candle.) [Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash] Light grows with the lighting of the second candle just like […]
Christmas: 1964 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Christmas is a time for rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” But for some people Christmas is a time for sadness. I remember it well, the day I […]
The Reason to Rejoice Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 Growing up I can remember making those Advent chains in Sunday School. Each day would have Bible verses from the time right before Jesus was born. I remember being so excited to get to that last chain link […]
Expect the Unexpected However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him… 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) January of 2019, I knew that God was doing some amazing things in my life. […]
